Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and display method therefor

ABSTRACT

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic image display method are disclosed. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to one disclosed embodiment can comprise: a display unit; a user interface; a memory for storing one or more instructions; and a processor for executing the one or more instructions so as to determine a reference point in an ultrasonic image, identify at least one anatomical structure of interest on the basis of a location relationship with the reference point with respect to the determined reference point, and control the display unit so that the identified anatomical structure of interest and information about the anatomical structure of interest are displayed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and anultrasonic image display method. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus for more preciselyindentifying an anatomical structure in an ultrasonic image, and amethod thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Ultrasonic imaging apparatuses irradiate an ultrasonic signal generatedby a transducer of a probe onto an object and receive information abouta signal reflected from the object, thereby acquiring at least one imageof an interior part of the object (for example, soft tissue or bloodflow). In particular, ultrasonic imaging apparatuses are used formedical purposes for observing the interior of an object, detectingforeign substances, and measuring damage to the object. As compared withX-ray diagnosis apparatuses, such ultrasonic imaging apparatuses havehigh stability, are able to display images in real time and are safebecause there is no radioactive exposure. Therefore, ultrasonic imagingapparatuses are widely used together with other image diagnosisapparatuses including a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a magneticresonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, and the like.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The present invention is directed to providing a method and apparatusfor more precisely identifying an anatomical structure in an ultrasonicimage.

Technical Solution

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonicimaging apparatus includes a display unit, a user interface, a memoryconfigured to store one or more instructions, and a processor configuredto execute the one or more instructions to determine a reference pointin an ultrasonic image, identify at least one anatomical structure ofinterest based on a positional relationship with the reference point onthe basis of the determined reference point, and control the displayunit to display the identified anatomical structure of interest andinformation about the anatomical structure of interest.

Advantageous Effects

It is possible to determine a reference point in an ultrasonic image,identify at least one anatomical structure of interest based on apositional relationship with the reference point on the basis of thedetermined reference point, and display the identified anatomicalstructure of interest and information about the anatomical structure ofinterest.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully through thefollowing detailed descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which reference numerals denote structuralelements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasounddiagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are views illustrating ultrasound diagnosis apparatusesaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonicimaging apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasonic image display methodaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasonic image display methodaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a view for describing a proximal carpal tunnel.

FIG. 6B is a view for describing a distal carpal tunnel.

FIG. 7A is an image for describing a method of displaying an anatomicalstructure of interest and information about the anatomical structure ofinterest according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is an image for describing a method of displaying an anatomicalstructure of interest and information about the anatomical structure ofinterest according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7C is an image for describing a method of displaying an anatomicalstructure of interest and information about the anatomical structure ofinterest according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7D is an image for describing a method of displaying an anatomicalstructure of interest and information about the anatomical structure ofinterest according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8A is an image for describing an estimated position of ananatomical structure of interest and a probability of the estimatedposition according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8B is an image for describing an estimated position of ananatomical structure of interest and a probability of the estimatedposition according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8C is an image for describing an estimated position of ananatomical structure of interest and a probability of the estimatedposition according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8D is an image for describing an estimated position of ananatomical structure of interest and a probability of the estimatedposition according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows images for describing an ultrasonic image display methodaccording to an embodiment.

BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic image display methodare provided.

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment may include adisplay unit, a user interface, a memory configured to store one or moreinstructions, and a processor configured to execute the one or moreinstructions to determine a reference point in an ultrasonic image,identify at least one anatomical structure of interest based on apositional relationship with the reference point on the basis of thedetermined reference point, and control the display unit to display theidentified anatomical structure of interest and information about theanatomical structure of interest.

[Modes of the Invention]

The present specification describes principles of the present inventionand sets forth embodiments thereof to clarify the scope of the presentinvention and to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to implementthe present invention. Disclosed embodiments may be implemented invarious forms.

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout thespecification. The present specification does not describe all elementsof embodiments, and common knowledge in the technical field to which thepresent invention pertains or the same descriptions of the embodimentswill be omitted. The term “part” or “portion” used in the specificationmay be implemented using hardware or software, and according toembodiments, one “part” or “portion” may be implemented as a single unitor element or include a plurality of units or elements. Hereinafter,operating principles and embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present specification, an “image” may include a medical imageobtained by a medical imaging apparatus such as a magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) device, a computed tomography (CT) device, an ultrasoundimaging device, and an X-ray imaging device.

In the present specification, an “object” is to be photographed and mayinclude a person, an animal, or a part thereof. For example, the objectmay include a part (organ) of a human body, a phantom, or the like.

Throughout the specification, an “ultrasonic image” means an image ofthe object, which is processed based on an ultrasonic signal transmittedto the object and reflected from the object.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasounddiagnosis apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. The ultrasounddiagnosis apparatus 100 may include a probe 20, an ultrasonictransceiver 110, a controller 120, an image processing unit 130, adisplay unit 140, a storage unit 150, a communication unit 160, and aninput unit 170.

The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 may be implemented as a portabletype as well as a cart type. Examples of a portable ultrasound diagnosisapparatus may include a smart phone, a laptop computer, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a tablet personal computer (PC), and the likeincluding a probe and an application, but the present invention is notlimited thereto.

The probe 20 may include a plurality of transducers. The plurality oftransducers may transmit ultrasonic signals to an object 10 according toa transmission signal applied from a transmission unit 113. Theplurality of transducers may receive ultrasonic signals reflected fromthe object 10 to form a reception signal. Further, the probe 20 may beimplemented integrally with the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 ormay be implemented as a separate type in which the probe 20 is connectedto the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 in a wired or wireless manner.Further, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 may include one or moreprobes 20 according to an implementation form.

The controller 120 controls the transmission unit 113 to form atransmission signal to be applied to each of the plurality oftransducers in consideration of the positions and focal points of theplurality of transducers included in the probe 20.

The controller 120 controls a reception unit 115 to convert a receptionsignal received from the probe 20 in an analog-to-digital conversionmanner and to sum the digitally converted reception signal inconsideration of the positions and focal points of the plurality oftransducers, thereby generating ultrasonic data.

The image processing unit 130 generates an ultrasonic image using theultrasonic data generated by the ultrasonic reception unit 115.

The display unit 140 may display the generated ultrasonic image andvarious pieces of information processed by the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus 100. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 may include one ormore display units 140 according to an implementation form. Further, thedisplay unit 140 may be implemented as a touch screen in combinationwith a touch panel.

The controller 120 may control the overall operation of the ultrasounddiagnosis apparatus 100 and a signal flow between internal components ofthe ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100. The controller 120 may include amemory that stores a program or data for performing a function of theultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 and a processor that processes theprogram or data. Further, the controller 120 may control the operationof the ultrasonic diagnosis device 100 by receiving a control signalfrom the input unit 170 or an external device.

The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 may include the communicationunit 160 and may be connected, through the communication unit 160, to anexternal device (for example, a server, a medical device, a portabledevice (a smart phone, a tablet PC, a wearable device, and the like)).

The communication unit 160 may include one or more components enablingcommunication with the external device and may include, for example, atleast one of a short-range communication module, a wired communicationmodule, and a wireless communication module.

The communication unit 160 may receive a control signal and data fromthe external device and transmit the received control signal to thecontroller 120 so that the controller 120 may control the ultrasounddiagnosis apparatus 100 in response to the received control signal.

Alternatively, the controller 120 may transmit a control signal to theexternal device through the communication unit 160 so that the externaldevice may be controlled in response to the control signal of thecontroller 120.

For example, the external device may process the data of the externaldevice in response to the control signal of the controller receivedthrough the communication unit.

A program capable of controlling the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100may be installed in the external device, and the program may includeinstructions for performing some or all of the operations of thecontroller 120.

The program may be installed in the external device in advance or may beinstalled by a user of the external device by downloading the programfrom a server that provides applications. The server that providesapplications may include a recording medium in which the correspondingprogram is stored.

The storage unit 150 may store various types of data or programs fordriving and controlling the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100,input/output ultrasonic data, acquired ultrasonic images, and the like.

The input unit 170 may receive a user's input to control the ultrasounddiagnosis device 100. For example, the user's input may include an inputfor manipulating a button, a keypad, a mouse, a trackball, a jog switch,a knob, or the like, an input for touching a touchpad or a touch screen,a voice input, a motion input, and a bioinformation input (e.g., irisrecognition or fingerprint recognition), but the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

An example of the ultrasound diagnosis device 100 according to anembodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are views illustrating ultrasound diagnosis apparatusesaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses 100 a and100 b may each include a main display unit 121 and a sub display unit122. One of the main display unit 121 and the sub display unit 122 maybe implemented as a touch screen. The main display unit 121 and the subdisplay unit 122 may display the ultrasonic image or various pieces ofinformation processed by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses 100 a and100 b. Further, the main display unit 121 and the sub display unit 122may be implemented as a touch screen and provide a graphical userinterface (GUI) to receive data for controlling the ultrasound diagnosisapparatuses 100 a and 100 b from a user. For example, the main displayunit 121 may display the ultrasonic image, and the sub display unit 122may display a control panel for controlling the ultrasonic image in theform of the GUI. The sub display unit 122 may receive data forcontrolling the displaying of the image through the control paneldisplayed in the form of the GUI. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses100 a and 100 b may control, using input control data, the displaying ofthe ultrasonic image displayed on the main display unit 121.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 b mayfurther include a control panel 165 in addition to the main display unit121 and the sub display unit 122. The control panel 165 may include abutton, a trackball, a jog switch, a knob, and the like, and may receivedata for controlling the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 b from theuser. For example, the control panel 165 may include a time gaincompensation (TGC) button 171, a freeze button 172, and the like. TheTGC button 171 is a button for setting a TGC value for each depth of theultrasonic image. Further, when detecting the input of the freeze button172 while scanning the ultrasonic image, the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus 100 b may maintain a state in which a frame image at acorresponding time point is displayed.

Meanwhile, inputs of the button, the trackball, the jog switch, theknob, and the like included in the control panel 165 may be provided tothe GUI in the main display unit 121 or the sub display unit 122.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 c may beimplemented as a portable type.

Examples of a portable ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 c may includea smart phone, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tablet PC, and the likeincluding a probe and an application, but the present invention is notlimited thereto.

The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 100 c may include the probe 20 and amain body 40, and the probe 20 may be connected to one side of the mainbody 40 in a wired or wireless manner. The main body 40 may include atouch screen 145. The touch screen 145 may display the ultrasonic image,various pieces of information processed by the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus, the GUI, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ultrasonicimaging apparatus according to an embodiment.

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 according to the embodiment includesan input unit 310, a processor 320, and a display unit 330. Theultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 may correspond to the ultrasonicimaging device 100 of FIG. 1. In addition, the ultrasonic imagingapparatus 300 may be implemented as a type of one of the ultrasonicimaging devices 100A, 1006, and 100C illustrated in FIG. 2. In anembodiment, the input unit 310 of FIG. 3 may include the input unit 170of FIG. 1. In addition, the processor 320 may correspond to thecontroller 120 and the image processing unit 130 of FIG. 1. Theprocessor 320 may include one or more processors. The display unit 330may correspond to the display unit 140 of FIG. 1.

According to an embodiment, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 mayinclude fewer components than those shown in FIG. 3 or further includeother additional components. For example, the ultrasonic imagingapparatus 300 may receive a user input from a separate device instead ofincluding the input unit 310.

The input unit 310 according to the embodiment may acquire ultrasonicdata about an object. For example, the input unit 310 may use a probe 20to irradiate ultrasonic waves onto the object and detect an ultrasonicecho signal. In an embodiment, the object may be a part of a user's bodyincluding a wrist.

In an embodiment, the probe may be a freehand type probe. In addition,the probe may be a linear probe or a 2-dimensional matrix array typeprobe, but in the present embodiment, the type of the probe is notlimited to the above-described examples.

The processor 320 controls the overall operation of the ultrasonicimaging apparatus 300 and processes data and signals. The processor 320may include at least one hardware unit. According to an embodiment, theprocessor 320 may include separate hardware units serving as an imageprocessing unit and a controller. The processor 320 may be operated byone or more software modules generated by executing program codes storedin a memory.

The processor 320 may acquire ultrasonic image data about an object froman ultrasonic echo signal. The processor 320 may acquire ultrasonicimage data including at least one of brightness mode (B-mode) imagedata, spectral Doppler image data, color Doppler image data, elasticimage data, and motion mode (M mode) image data from the ultrasonic echosignal, but the type of the ultrasonic image data acquirable by theprocessor 320 is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the ultrasonic image data may be object section data.The object section data may include a certain piece of volume dataacquired based on a 2-dimensional section of the object or consecutive2-dimensional sections. That is, for example, the object section datamay be 2-dimensional image data showing a cross section of an object or3-dimensional image data about a certain volume including a plurality ofcross sections of the object.

The processor 320 may determine a reference point in ultrasonic imagedata.

In an embodiment, the reference point may be a specific position in anultrasonic image. In an embodiment, the above-described reference pointmay be determined based on an input of a user. For example, thereference point may be determined based on a click event of the user ata specific position or an input of the user related to positioncoordinates. However, a method in which the user inputs informationrelated to the reference point is not limited to the above-describedembodiment. In another embodiment, the above-described reference pointmay be determined based on a predetermined certain criterion. Forexample, the reference point may be an absolute position in anultrasonic image, for example, a position of center coordinates.Alternatively, the reference point may be a certain position in adetermined region of interest on an ultrasonic image, for example, aposition of center coordinates in the region of interest. However, thecertain criterion is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

In an embodiment, the reference point may be a point at which areference anatomical structure is located on an ultrasonic image or maybe a central position of the reference anatomical structure. In anembodiment, the reference anatomical structure may be determined basedon an input of a user. For example, the reference anatomical structuremay be determined based on an input of the user of selecting a specificanatomical structure from among a plurality of anatomical structures. Inan embodiment, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 may displayinformation indicating a plurality of anatomical structures, forexample, an icon corresponding to each anatomical structure or textrepresenting a name thereof, through the display unit 330 and mayreceive an input of the user of selecting at least one anatomicalstructure from among the plurality of anatomical structures describedabove. Alternatively, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 may receive atext input representing a name of an anatomical structure from the userand may select the anatomical structure corresponding to theabove-described text input as the reference anatomical structure using adatabase stored in a memory or received from an external device.However, a method in which the user inputs information about thereference anatomical structure is not limited to the above-describedembodiment.

In another embodiment, the reference anatomical structure may be atleast one predetermined anatomical structure. Information about at leastone predetermined anatomical structure may be stored in a memory of theultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300. When the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus 300 performs an ultrasonic image displaying operation, theultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 may automatically select theabove-described at least one predetermined anatomical structure as thereference anatomical structure. In an embodiment, the referenceanatomical structure may be an anatomical structure that is easy toidentify on an ultrasonic image. For example, when an object is a wristof a user, the reference anatomical structure may be an ulnar nerve or aflexor pollicis longus tendon of the user. However, it will beunderstood by a person skilled in the art that the reference anatomicalstructure is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

On the basis of the determined reference point, the processor 320 mayidentify at least one anatomical structure of interest in the ultrasonicimage based on a relationship between the anatomical structure ofinterest and the above-described reference point, for example, apositional relationship therebetween.

The anatomical structure of interest may be an anatomical structure tobe identified in the ultrasonic image. In an embodiment, the anatomicalstructure of interest may be determined based on an input of a user ormay be a predetermined anatomical structure.

In an embodiment, the anatomical structure of interest may be determinedbased on an input of the user of selecting a specific anatomicalstructure from among a plurality of anatomical structures. In anembodiment, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 may display informationindicating a plurality of anatomical structures, for example, an iconcorresponding to each anatomical structure or text representing a namethereof, through the display unit 330 and may receive an input of theuser of selecting at least one anatomical structure from among theplurality of anatomical structures described above. Alternatively, theultrasonic imaging apparatus 300 may receive a text input representing aname of an anatomical structure from the user and may select theanatomical structure corresponding to the above-described text input asthe reference anatomical structure using a database stored in the memoryor received from the external device. However, a method in which theuser inputs information about the anatomical structure of interest isnot limited to the above-described embodiment.

In another embodiment, the anatomical structure of interest may be atleast one predetermined anatomical structure. In an embodiment, theanatomical structure of interest may be a diagnostically importantanatomical structure. For example, when an object is a wrist of a user,the reference anatomical structure may be an ulnar nerve or a mediannerve of the user. However, it will be understood by a person skilled inthe art that the reference anatomical structure is not limited to theabove-described embodiment.

The positional relationship between the anatomical structure of interestand the reference point may include various types of information. Forexample, the positional relationship may include at least one of a2-dimensional or 3-dimensional distance value, a direction, and anatural language description indicating such information between theanatomical structure of interest and the reference point.

Meanwhile, when the processor 320 cannot identify at least oneanatomical structure of interest, on the basis of the determinedreference point, the processor 320 may acquire an estimated position ofat least one anatomical structure of interest on the ultrasonic imagebased on the positional relationship between the anatomical structure ofinterest and the above-described reference point. In addition, theprocessor 320 may calculate the probability of the acquired estimatedposition of the anatomical structure of interest.

In an embodiment, the processor 320 may identify at least one anatomicalstructure of interest or the estimated position of the anatomicalstructure of interest on the ultrasonic image based on a learning model(or a learning network model). More specifically, the processor 320 mayidentify the anatomical structure of interest or acquire the estimatedposition thereof on the ultrasonic image by applying data about thereference point and the anatomical structure of interest to the learningmodel.

In an embodiment, in order to train the above-described learning model,position context information may be provided to the learning model. Theposition context information may include at least one of a 2-dimensionalor 3-dimensional distance value, a direction, and a natural languagedescription indicating such information between anatomical structures,but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The processor 320 may control the display unit 330 to display theidentified at least one anatomical structure of interest and informationabout the anatomical structure of interest.

The display unit 330 displays an operation state of the ultrasonicimaging apparatus 300, an ultrasonic image, a user interface screen, andthe like. The display unit 330 may include one or more display panelsaccording to embodiments. According to an embodiment, the display unit330 may be implemented in the form of a touch screen.

The display unit 330 according to the embodiment may display theidentified at least one anatomical structure of interest and theinformation about the anatomical structure of interest. In anembodiment, the at least one anatomical structure of interest and theinformation about the anatomical structure of interest may be displayedon an ultrasonic image or displayed parallel with the ultrasonic image.

In an embodiment, the anatomical structure of interest may be displayedin the form of a closed curve on the ultrasonic image. Theabove-described closed curve may be displayed along a contour line ofthe anatomical structure of interest. In another embodiment, theanatomical structure of interest may be displayed in the form of aspecific face on the ultrasonic image. The above-described face mayrepresent a cross section of the anatomical structure of interest. Forexample, the above-described face may be filled with a certain type ofcolor or may be filled with a certain type of geometric pattern, forexample, a hatched pattern. In another embodiment, the anatomicalstructure of interest may be displayed on the ultrasonic image in theform of a specific identifier, for example, a dot, a box, or an arrow.The above-described specific identifier may be displayed at a centralposition of the anatomical structure of interest. In still anotherembodiment, the anatomical structure of interest may be displayed on theultrasonic image in the form of an icon corresponding to the anatomicalstructure of interest or text representing a name thereof. The icon ortext representing the name may be displayed at a position which does notoverlap the cross section of the anatomical structure of interest and isadjacent to the cross section of the anatomical structure of interest.

In an embodiment, the information about the anatomical structure ofinterest may be information indicating the positional relationshipbetween the anatomical structure of interest and the reference point. Inan embodiment, the above-described positional relationship may bedisplayed in the form of a distance map. The distance map may include atleast one of information indicating a distance between the anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point and a line connecting theanatomical structure of interest and the reference point. In anembodiment, the above-described positional relationship may be displayedin the form of a distance table. The distance table may includeinformation in which a distance between at least one anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point is displayed in the formof a table. In an embodiment, the above-described positionalrelationship may be displayed in the form of a distance color map. Thedistance color map may include information in which a distance betweenat least one anatomical structure of interest and the reference point isdisplayed in the form of a color. In an embodiment, the above-describedpositional relationship may be displayed in the form of a naturallanguage description. For example, when the reference point is aposition of an ulnar nerve and the anatomical structure of interest is amedian nerve, the above-described positional relationship may bedisplayed in the form of a natural language description of “median nervelocated on left side of ulnar nerve.”

Meanwhile, when the estimated position of the anatomical structure ofinterest is acquired, the processor 320 may control the display unit 330to display the above-described estimated position and the informationabout the anatomical structure of interest. In addition, the processor320 may control the display unit 330 to further display the probabilityof the estimated position of the anatomical structure of interest.

In an embodiment, the estimated position of the anatomical structure ofinterest may be displayed in the form of a closed curve on theultrasonic image. The above-described closed curve may be displayedalong an estimated contour line of the anatomical structure of interest.In another embodiment, the anatomical structure of interest may bedisplayed in the form of a specific face on the ultrasonic image. Theabove-described face may represent an estimated cross section of theanatomical structure of interest. For example, the above-described facemay be filled with a certain type of color or may be filled with acertain type of geometric pattern, for example, a hatched pattern. Inanother embodiment, the estimated position of the anatomical structureof interest may be displayed on the ultrasonic image in the form of aspecific identifier, for example, a box, a dot, or an arrow. Theabove-described specific identifier may be displayed at a centralposition of the anatomical structure of interest. In still anotherembodiment, the estimated position of the anatomical structure ofinterest may be displayed on the ultrasonic image in the form of an iconcorresponding to the anatomical structure of interest or textrepresenting a name thereof. The above-described icon or textrepresenting the name may be displayed at a position which does notoverlap the cross section of the anatomical structure of interest and isadjacent to the cross section of the anatomical structure of interest.

In an embodiment, the probability of the estimated position may bedisplayed in the form of text representing a reliability value. Forexample, the reliability value may be a percentage value that indicatesa probability or a probability value that is less than one.

In an embodiment, the probability of the estimated position may bedisplayed in the form of at least one of a color or type of anidentifier, a color or geometric pattern type of a face, and a thicknessor type of a line which indicate the estimated position on theultrasonic image. For example, when the estimated position is displayedin the form of a box, a line thickness of the box indicating theestimated position may be decreased as a probability is lowered.Alternatively, when the estimated position is displayed in the form of aclosed curve, the closed curve indicating the estimated position may bedisplayed as a dotted line when a probability is less than or equal to acertain probability. However, a method of displaying a probability inthe present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

Meanwhile, according to embodiments, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus300 may further include the memory in addition to the processor 320 andthe display unit 330. The above-described learning network model may bestored in the memory of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300.

The learning network model may be designed to simulate a human brainstructure on a computer.

For example, the learning network model may include a plurality ofnetwork nodes that simulate neurons of a human neural network and have aweight. The plurality of network nodes may each establish a connectionrelation so that the neurons simulate synaptic activity of transmittingand receiving signals through synapses.

The learning network model may include, for example, an artificialintelligence neural network model or a deep learning network modeldeveloped from a neural network model. In the deep learning networkmodel, a plurality of network nodes may be located at different depths(or layers) and may exchange data according to a convolution connectionrelationship.

As an example, the learning network model may be implemented as asoftware module. When being implemented as the software module (forexample, a program module including instructions), the learning networkmodel may be stored in a computer-readable medium. In this case, thecomputer-readable recording medium may become at least a part of amemory 1500.

As another example, the learning network model may be integrated in theform of a hardware chip and become a part of the processor 320. Forexample, the learning network model may be manufactured in the form of adedicated hardware chip for artificial intelligence (AI) or may bemanufactured as a part of an existing general-purpose processor (forexample, a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor) ora dedicated graphic processor (for example, a graphic processing unit(GPU).

Alternatively, the learning network model may be stored in an externalserver. In this case, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 may use theabove-described learning network model while transmitting and receivingdata to and from the external server.

In this case, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 may transmit anultrasonic image to the above-described external server through acommunication unit. For example, the external server may be an AI cloudserver. The ultrasonic image may be, for example, an image acquired by asonographer operating the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 accordingto a protocol.

The external server may input the ultrasonic image received from theultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 to the learning network model toanalyze the ultrasonic image and may transmit information about arelative position of a target anatomical structure and a determinedtarget anatomical structure to the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300.

When the learning network model located in the external server isimplemented as a software module, the learning network model may bestored in a computer-readable recording medium. In this case, thecomputer-readable recording medium may become a memory (not shown) ofthe server.

The learning network model may be created in the external server. Theexternal server may be, for example, a server of a manufacturer of theultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300, a server of a manager, or a serverof a third party consigned or leased by the manufacturer or manager. Theserver may be a server which only creates or updates a learning networkmodel or may be a server which receives an ultrasonic image from theultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 and provides an analysis result usingthe learning network model.

The server may train the training network model using training data. Thetraining data may be, for example, information indicating a positionalrelationship between various anatomical structures. The positionalrelationship may include at least one of natural language descriptionsindicating a distance value, a direction, and the positionalrelationship between the anatomical structures. Medical imageinformation may include an ultrasonic image, an X-ray image, an MRIimage, and a CT image.

The training data may be collected from a hospital or a doctor by themanufacturer or manager of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300, or aresult obtained using the learning network model in the ultrasounddiagnosis apparatus 300 may be used again as the training data.

The learning network model may be updated periodically or aperiodically.The aperiodic updating may be performed, for example, when there is arequest from the manager or when more than a certain amount of thetraining data is collected.

According to various embodiments, a process of generating the learningnetwork model may be directly performed by the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus 300. That is, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus 300 may trainand update the learning network model and even analyze an ultrasonicimage using the learning network model.

In addition, the server may be provided as a plurality of servers. Theserver may include a system which stores and processes data usingresources of various devices (servers, clients, or the like) connectedto each other in the Internet environment.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the learning networkmodel may be configured to estimate the optimal positional relationshipand a position of an anatomical structure with respect thereto.

Here, the learning network model being configured for the above purposemeans that the learning network model is not a general learning networkmodel capable of responding to various cases but is a learning networkmodel which is trained for a specific purpose and thus the insidethereof is implemented to meet the above purpose.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasonic image display methodaccording to an embodiment.

In operation S410, a reference point may be determined in an ultrasonicimage.

In an embodiment, the above-described reference point may be determinedbased on an input of a user or based on a predetermined certaincriterion. In another embodiment, the reference point may be a point atwhich a reference anatomical structure is located on the ultrasonicimage, or a central position of the reference anatomical structure. Inan embodiment, the reference anatomical structure may be determinedbased on an input of the user or may be at least one predeterminedanatomical structure. In an embodiment, the reference anatomicalstructure may be an anatomical structure that is easy to identify on theultrasonic image. For example, when an object is a wrist of the user,the reference anatomical structure may be an ulnar nerve or a flexorpollicis longus tendon of the user. However, it will be understood by aperson skilled in the art that the reference anatomical structure is notlimited to the above-described embodiment.

In operation S420, on the basis of the determined reference point, atleast one anatomical structure of interest may be identified based on apositional relationship with the above-described reference point.

The anatomical structure of interest may be an anatomical structure tobe identified in the ultrasonic image. In an embodiment, the anatomicalstructure of interest may be determined based on an input of the user ormay be a predetermined anatomical structure.

The positional relationship between the anatomical structure of interestand the reference point may include various types of information. Forexample, the positional relationship may include at least one of a2-dimensional or 3-dimensional distance value, a direction, and anatural language description indicating such information between theanatomical structure of interest and the reference point.

In an embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may identify atleast one anatomical structure of interest on the ultrasonic image basedon a learning model (or a learning network model). More specifically,the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may identify the anatomical structureof interest on the ultrasonic image by applying data about the referencepoint and the anatomical structure of interest to the learning model.

In operation S430, the identified anatomical structure of interest andinformation about the anatomical structure of interest may be displayed.In an embodiment, at least one anatomical structure of interest and theinformation about the anatomical structure of interest may be displayedon the ultrasonic image or displayed parallel with the ultrasonic image.

In an embodiment, the anatomical structure of interest may be displayedon the ultrasonic image in the form of at least one of a closed curve, aface indicating a cross section of the anatomical structure of interest,a specific identifier, an icon corresponding to the anatomical structureof interest, and text representing a name of the anatomical structure ofinterest. However, a method of displaying the anatomical structure ofinterest on the ultrasonic image is not limited to the above-describedexample.

In an embodiment, the information about the anatomical structure ofinterest may be information indicating the positional relationshipbetween the anatomical structure of interest and the reference point. Inan embodiment, the above-described positional relationship may bedisplayed in the form of a distance map. The distance map may include atleast one of information indicating a distance between the anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point and a line connecting theanatomical structure of interest and the reference point. In anembodiment, the above-described positional relationship may be displayedin the form of a distance table. The distance table may includeinformation in which a distance between at least one anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point is displayed in the formof a table. In an embodiment, the above-described positionalrelationship may be displayed in the form of a distance color map. Thedistance color map may include information in which a distance betweenat least one anatomical structure of interest and the reference point isdisplayed in the form of a color. In an embodiment, the above-describedpositional relationship may be displayed in the form of a naturallanguage description. For example, when the reference point is aposition of an ulnar nerve, and the anatomical structure of interest isa median nerve, the above-described positional relationship may bedisplayed in the form of a natural language description of “median nervelocated on left side of ulnar nerve.”

According to the ultrasonic image display method described withreference to FIG. 4, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus identifies theanatomical structure of interest based on the positional relationshipbetween the reference point and the anatomical structure of interest anddisplays the identified anatomical structure and information thereabout,thereby providing more various pieces of information to a user andallowing the anatomical structure of interest to be more easilyanalyzed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasonic image display methodaccording to an embodiment.

In operation S510, a reference point may be determined in an ultrasonicimage.

In an embodiment, the above-described reference point may be determinedbased on an input of a user or based on a predetermined certaincriterion. In another embodiment, the reference point may be a point atwhich a reference anatomical structure is located on the ultrasonicimage, or a central position of the reference anatomical structure. Inan embodiment, the reference anatomical structure may be determinedbased on an input of the user or may be at least one predeterminedanatomical structure. In an embodiment, the reference anatomicalstructure may be an anatomical structure that is easy to identify on theultrasonic image. For example, when an object is a wrist of a user, thereference anatomical structure may be an ulnar nerve or a flexorpollicis longus tendon of the user. However, it will be understood by aperson skilled in the art that the reference anatomical structure is notlimited to the above-described embodiment.

In operation S520, on the basis of the determined reference point, anestimated position of at least one anatomical structure of interest maybe acquired based on a positional relationship with the above-describedreference point. In an embodiment, the estimated position of theanatomical structure of interest may be acquired when at least oneanatomical structure of interest cannot be identified in the embodimentdescribed with reference to FIG. 4. In addition, the probability of theacquired estimated position of the anatomical structure of interest maybe calculated.

The anatomical structure of interest may be an anatomical structure tobe identified in the ultrasonic image. In an embodiment, the anatomicalstructure of interest may be determined based on an input of the user ormay be a predetermined anatomical structure.

The positional relationship between the anatomical structure of interestand the reference point may include various types of information. Forexample, the positional relationship may include at least one of a2-dimensional or 3-dimensional distance value, a direction, and anatural language description indicating such information between theanatomical structure of interest and the reference point.

In an embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may acquire theestimated position of at least one anatomical structure of interest onthe ultrasonic image based on a learning model (or a learning networkmodel). More specifically, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus mayacquire the estimated position of the anatomical structure of intereston the ultrasonic image by applying data about the reference point andthe anatomical structure of interest to the learning model.

In operation S530, the estimated position of the anatomical structure ofinterest and information about the anatomical structure of interest maybe displayed. In an embodiment, the estimated position of the at leastone anatomical structure of interest and the information about theanatomical structure of interest may be displayed on the ultrasonicimage or displayed parallel with the ultrasonic image. In addition, inan embodiment, the probability of the estimated position may be furtherdisplayed.

In an embodiment, the estimated position of the anatomical structure ofinterest may be displayed on the ultrasonic image in the form of atleast one of a closed curve, a face indicating a cross section of theanatomical structure of interest, a specific identifier, an iconcorresponding to the anatomical structure of interest, and textrepresenting a name of the anatomical structure of interest. However, amethod of displaying the estimated position of the anatomical structureof interest on the ultrasonic image is not limited to theabove-described example.

In an embodiment, the information about the anatomical structure ofinterest may be information indicating the positional relationshipbetween the anatomical structure of interest and the reference point. Inan embodiment, the above-described positional relationship may bedisplayed in the form of a distance map. The distance map may include atleast one of information indicating a distance between the anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point and a line connecting theanatomical structure of interest and the reference point. In anembodiment, the above-described positional relationship may be displayedin the form of a distance table. The distance table may includeinformation in which a distance between at least one anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point is displayed in the formof a table. In an embodiment, the above-described positionalrelationship may be displayed in the form of a distance color map. Thedistance color map may include information in which a distance betweenat least one anatomical structure of interest and the reference point isdisplayed in the form of a color. In an embodiment, the above-describedpositional relationship may be displayed in the form of a naturallanguage description. For example, when the reference point is aposition of an ulnar nerve, and the anatomical structure of interest isa median nerve, the above-described positional relationship may bedisplayed in the form of a natural language description of “median nervelocated on left side of ulnar nerve.”

In an embodiment, the probability of the estimated position may bedisplayed in the form of text representing a reliability value. Forexample, the reliability value may be a percentage value that indicatesa probability or a probability value that is less than 1. For example,when the reference point is a position of an ulnar nerve, and theanatomical structure of interest is a median nerve, the above-describedpositional relationship may be displayed in the form of a naturallanguage description of “median nerve located on left side of ulnarnerve, probability 0.88.”

In an embodiment, the probability of the estimated position may bedisplayed in the form of at least one of a color or type of anidentifier, a color or geometric pattern type of a face, and a thicknessor type of a line which indicate the estimated position on theultrasonic image. For example, when the estimated position is displayedin the form of a box, a line thickness of the box indicating theestimated position may be decreased as a probability is lowered.Alternatively, when the estimated position is displayed in the form of aclosed curve, the closed curve indicating the estimated position may bedisplayed as a dotted line when a probability is less than or equal to acertain probability. However, a method of displaying a probability inthe present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

According to the ultrasonic image display method described withreference to FIG. 5, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus estimates theanatomical structure of interest based on the positional relationshipbetween the reference point and the anatomical structure of interest anddisplays the estimated position and information thereabout, therebyallowing a user to more easily analyze the anatomical structure ofinterest even when the anatomical structure is difficult to identify.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views for describing an anatomical structure of acarpal tunnel.

FIG. 6A is a view for describing a proximal carpal tunnel. Referring toFIG. 6A, FIG. 6A illustrates landmark anatomical structures of theproximal carpal tunnel, such as an ulnar artery, an ulnar nerve, amedian nerve, a scaphoid tubercle, a pisiform, a flexor retinaculum, anda flexor pollicis longus. When an ultrasonic image including theproximal carpal tunnel is acquired, at least one of the landmarkanatomical structures may be selected as a reference anatomicalstructure or an anatomical structure of interest. For example, thescaphoid tubercle or the pisiform, which is a bony landmark that is easyto identify, may be selected as the reference anatomical structure. Inaddition, in order to avoid conflict when a tunnel syndrome is diagnosedor a drug is injected, the identification of a nervous structure may berequired, and thus, the ulnar nerve or the median nerve, which is amajor nerve landmark, may be selected as the anatomical structure ofinterest. However, this is merely an example, and a method of selectingthe reference anatomical structure or the anatomical structure ofinterest is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a view for describing a distal carpal tunnel.

Referring to FIG. 6B, Landmark anatomical structures of the distalcarpal tunnel, such as an ulnar artery, an ulnar nerve, a median nerve,a trapezium tubercle, a hook of hamate, a flexor retinaculum, and aflexor pollicis longus are illustrated. When an ultrasonic imageincluding the distal carpal tunnel is acquired, at least one of thelandmark anatomical structures may be selected as a reference anatomicalstructure or an anatomical structure of interest. For example, thetrapezium tubercle or the hook of hamate, which is a bony landmark thatis easy to identify, may be selected as the reference anatomicalstructure. In addition, in order to avoid conflict when a tunnelsyndrome is diagnosed or a drug is injected, the identification of anervous structure may be required, and thus, the ulnar nerve or themedian nerve, which is a major nerve landmark, may be selected as theanatomical structure of interest. However, this is merely an example,and a method of selecting the reference anatomical structure or theanatomical structure of interest is not limited to the above-describedembodiment.

Meanwhile, when an ultrasonic image, which is certain volume dataacquired based on consecutive 2-dimensional cross sections, is acquired,an anatomical structure of interest may need to be identified for eachultrasonic image frame showing each 2-dimensional cross section.

For example, when an ultrasonic image is acquired in a direction from adistal wrist to a proximal wrist of a user, an ulnar nerve, which is ananatomical structure of interest, may need to be consecutivelyidentified in each frame. In an embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosisapparatus may acquire an anatomical structure of interest or anestimated position thereof for each frame constituting volume data inthe manner described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, theultrasound diagnosis apparatus may use an anatomical structure ofinterest or an estimated position thereof acquired in a previous frameto acquire an anatomical structure of interest or an estimated positionthereof in a current frame. For example, the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus may select an anatomical structure of interest or an estimatedposition thereof acquired in a previous frame as an additional referencepoint in a current frame. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may displayan anatomical structure of interest or an estimated position thereofacquired in a previous frame and may display a relationship with ananatomical structure of interest or an estimated position thereofacquired in a current frame. For example, the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus may display the relationship in the form of a natural languagedescription of “branch nerve separated to left side from nerve ofprevious frame.”

FIGS. 7A to 7D are images for describing methods of displaying ananatomical structure of interest and information about the anatomicalstructure of interest according to an embodiment.

Specifically, FIG. 7A is an image showing an embodiment in which ananatomical structure of interest is displayed in the form of a closedcurve, and information about the anatomical structure of interest isdisplayed in the form of a natural language description. Referring toFIG. 7A, a position of an ulnar nerve as an exemplary referenceanatomical structure and a position of a median nerve as an exemplaryanatomical structure of interest are displayed in the form of a closedcurve, and information indicating a positional relationship between theanatomical structure of interest and a reference point is displayed inthe forms of “ulnar nerve located on left side of median nerve” and“median nerve located on right side of ulnar nerve.”

FIG. 7B is an image showing an embodiment in which an anatomicalstructure of interest is displayed in the form of a dot as an identifierand the form of text of a name, and information about the anatomicalstructure of interest is displayed in the form of a distance map.Referring to FIG. 7B, a position of an ulnar nerve as an exemplaryreference anatomical structure and a position of a median nerve as anexemplary anatomical structure of interest are displayed in the form ofa dot and the form of text of a name, and information indicating apositional relationship between the anatomical structure and a referencepoint is displayed in the form of information indicating a distance dbetween the anatomical structure of interest and the reference point andthe form of a line connecting the anatomical structure of interest andthe reference point.

FIG. 7C is an image showing an embodiment in which an anatomicalstructure of interest is displayed in the form of a box and the form oftext of a name, and information about the anatomical structure ofinterest is displayed in the form of a distance table. Referring to FIG.7C, a position of an ulnar nerve as an exemplary reference anatomicalstructure and positions of a median nerve and an ulnar artery asexemplary anatomical structures of interest are displayed in the form ofa box and the form of text of a name, and pieces of informationindicating positional relationships between the anatomical structures ofinterest and a reference point are displayed in the form of a tableshowing distances d1 and d2 between the anatomical structures ofinterest and the reference point and the form of lines connecting theanatomical structures of interest and the reference point.

FIG. 7D is an image showing an embodiment in which an anatomicalstructure of interest is displayed in the form of a face and the form oftext of a name, and information about of the anatomical structure ofinterest is displayed in the form of a distance color map. Referring toFIG. 7D, a position of an ulnar nerve as an exemplary referenceanatomical structure and positions of a median nerve and an ulnar arteryas exemplary anatomical structures of interest are displayed in the formof a face and the form of text of a name, and pieces of informationindicating positional relationships between the anatomical structures ofinterest and a reference point are displayed in the form of a face ofwhich a color is varied according to a distance between the anatomicalstructures of interest and the reference point. For example, in FIG. 7D,since a distance between the ulnar nerve and the median nerve is longerthan a distance between the ulnar nerve and the ulnar artery, the colorof the face indicating the median nerve is displayed brighter than thecolor of the face indicating the ulnar artery.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are images for describing methods of displaying anestimated position of an anatomical structure of interest and aprobability of the estimated position according to an embodiment.

Specifically, FIG. 8A is an image showing an embodiment in which anestimated position of an anatomical structure of interest is displayedin the form of a closed curve, and information about the anatomicalstructure of interest and a probability are displayed in the form of anatural language description. Referring to FIG. 8A, a position of anulnar nerve as an exemplary reference anatomical structure and aposition of a median nerve as an exemplary anatomical structure ofinterest are displayed in the form of a closed curve, and informationindicating a positional relationship between the anatomical structure ofinterest and a reference point, and a probability are displayed in theform of “ulnar nerve located on left side of median nerve” and “mediannerve located on right side of ulnar nerve [probability 0.97].”

FIG. 8B is an image showing an embodiment in which an anatomicalstructure of interest is displayed in the form of a closed curve and theform of text of a name, and a probability is displayed as a type ofline. Referring to FIG. 8B, a position of an ulnar nerve as an exemplaryreference anatomical structure and a position of a median nerve as anexemplary anatomical structure of interest are displayed in the form ofa closed curve and the form of text of a name, and when a probability isless than or equal to a certain value, the above-described closed curveis displayed in the form of a dotted line.

FIG. 8C is an image showing an embodiment in which an anatomicalstructure of interest is displayed in the form of a closed curve and theform of text of a name, information about the anatomical structure ofinterest is displayed in a distance map, and a probability is displayedas a type of line. Referring to FIG. 8C, a position of an ulnar nerve asan exemplary reference anatomical structure and a position of a mediannerve as an exemplary anatomical structure of interest are displayed inthe form of a closed curve and the form of text of a name, informationindicating a positional relationship between the anatomical structureand a reference point is displayed in the form of information indicatinga distance d between the anatomical structure of interest and thereference point and the form of a line connecting the anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point, and when a probability isless than or equal to a certain value, the above-described closed curveis displayed in the form of a dotted line.

FIG. 8D is an image showing an embodiment in which an anatomycorresponding to a reference anatomical structure or an anatomicalstructure of interest is additionally displayed in the embodiment ofFIG. 8A. Referring to FIG. 8D, an image in which a position of an ulnarnerve as an exemplary reference anatomical structure and a position of amedian nerve as an exemplary anatomical structure of interest aredisplayed in the form of a closed curve, information indicating apositional relationship between the anatomical structure of interest anda reference point, and a probability are displayed in the form of “ulnarnerve located on left side of median nerve” and “median nerve located onright side of ulnar nerve [probability 0.97],” and an image is displayedwhich shows the position of the ulnar nerve as the reference anatomicalstructure and a structure of the median nerve as the exemplaryanatomical structure of interest.

FIG. 9 shows images for describing an ultrasonic image display methodaccording to an embodiment.

When an ultrasonic image, which is certain volume data acquired based onconsecutive 2-dimensional cross sections, is acquired, an anatomicalstructure of interest may need to be identified for each ultrasonicimage frame showing each 2-dimensional cross section.

In an embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may acquire ananatomical structure of interest or an estimated position thereof foreach frame constituting volume data in the manner described withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, the ultrasound diagnosisapparatus may use an anatomical structure of interest or an estimatedposition thereof acquired in a previous frame to acquire an anatomicalstructure of interest or an estimated position thereof in a currentframe.

Referring to FIG. 9, for example, an ulnar nerve and a median nerve asanatomical structures of interest in a current frame are displayed inthe form of a box. More specifically, in an N frame, positions of theulnar nerve and the median nerve as the anatomical structures ofinterest are shown together with positions of an ulnar nerve and amedian nerve of an N−1 frame, which are displayed in the form of adotted line and are reference points in the N frame.

Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented throughrecording media having stored therein computer-executable instructions.The instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and whenexecuted by processor, generate a program module to perform operationsof the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, when being executed by theprocessor, the instructions may perform certain operations of thedisclosed embodiments.

1. An ultrasonic image display method comprising: determining areference point in the ultrasonic image; identifying at least oneanatomical structures of interest based on a positional relationshipwith the reference point on the basis of the determined reference point;and displaying the identified anatomical structure of interest andinformation about the anatomical structure of interest.
 2. Theultrasonic image display method of claim 1, wherein the reference pointis determined based on an input of a user.
 3. The ultrasonic imagedisplay method of claim 2, wherein the reference point is determinedbased on a click event of the user at a specific position in theultrasonic image or an input of the user related to positioncoordinates.
 4. The ultrasonic image display method of claim 1, whereinthe reference point is determined based on a point at which at least onereference anatomical structure is located on the ultrasonic image. 5.The ultrasonic image display method of claim 4, wherein the at least onereference anatomical structure is determined based on an input of a userselecting a specific anatomical structure from among the plurality ofanatomical structures.
 6. The ultrasonic image display method of claim1, wherein the identifying of at least one anatomical structures ofinterest based on the positional relationship with the reference pointon the basis of the determined reference point further includesidentifying the anatomical structure of interest on the ultrasonic imageby applying data about the reference point and the anatomical structureof interest to a learning model, and the learning model is trainedthrough position context information.
 7. The ultrasonic image displaymethod of claim 1, wherein the anatomical structure of interest isdetermined based on an input of a user selecting a specific anatomicalstructure from among the plurality of anatomical structures.
 8. Theultrasonic image display method of claim 1, wherein the positionalrelationship with the reference point includes at least one of adistance value, a direction, and a natural language descriptionindicating the distance value or the direction between the anatomicalstructure of interest and the reference point.
 9. The ultrasonic imagedisplay method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of at lease oneanatomical structures of interest based on the positional relationshipwith the reference point on the basis of the determined reference pointfurther includes: determining whether the at lease one anatomicalstructures of interest are identifiable; and when it is determined thatthe at least one anatomical structures of interest are unidentifiable,acquiring an estimated position of the at least one anatomicalstructures of interest on the ultrasonic image based on the positionalrelationship on the basis of the reference point.
 10. The ultrasonicimage display method of claim 9, further comprising: calculating aprobability of the estimated position; and displaying the calculatedprobability.
 11. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: a displayunit; a user interface; a memory configured to store one or moreinstructions, and a processor configured to determine a reference pointin an ultrasonic image, identify at least one anatomical structure ofinterest based on a positional relationship with the reference point onthe basis of the determined reference point, and control the displayunit to display the identified anatomical structure of interest andinformation about the anatomical structure of interest.
 12. Theultrasonic imaging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reference point isdetermined based on a point at which at least one reference anatomicalstructure is located on the ultrasonic image.
 13. The ultrasonic imagingapparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor identifies the anatomicalstructure of interest on the ultrasonic image by applying data about thereference point and the anatomical structure of interest to a learningmodel, and the learning model is trained through position contextinformation.
 14. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus of claim 11, whereinit is determined whether the at least one anatomical structure ofinterest is identifiable, and when it is determined that the at leastone anatomical structure of interest is unidentifiable, an estimatedposition of the at least one anatomical structure of interest on theultrasonic image is acquired based on the positional relationship on thebasis of the reference point.
 15. A computer-readable recording mediumfor storing a computer program code for, when being read and executed bya processor, performing an ultrasonic image display method, wherein theultrasonic image display method includes: determining a reference pointin the ultrasonic image; identifying at least one anatomical structureof interest based on a positional relationship with the reference pointon the basis of the determined reference point; and displaying theidentified anatomical structure of interest and information about theanatomical structure of interest.